Valve Cover Gaskets
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: IL/IA
Valve Cover Gaskets
Which do you use? Cork or Rubber?
I have a pair of FelPro rubber gaskets on with stock valve covers that are leaking like sieves. I must have lost a quart or more while cruising around town testing my new radiator/electric fan. When I saw it all leaking out at the wal-mart parkinglot, I bought another 3 quarts to keep handy. I poured one in only to hear it cascading onto the parkinglot. I pulled off the valve cover and found in was kinked up and not sealing. I'm thinking I'll keep these around for when I get new valve covers and just get some cork ones for now.
I have a pair of FelPro rubber gaskets on with stock valve covers that are leaking like sieves. I must have lost a quart or more while cruising around town testing my new radiator/electric fan. When I saw it all leaking out at the wal-mart parkinglot, I bought another 3 quarts to keep handy. I poured one in only to hear it cascading onto the parkinglot. I pulled off the valve cover and found in was kinked up and not sealing. I'm thinking I'll keep these around for when I get new valve covers and just get some cork ones for now.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 238
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City Oklahoma
I just had a friend (great mechanic) help me put new Felpro rubber Gaskets on my 1980, 350 and they worked great.
He did show me a trick about buying Permatex High Tack Spray-a-Gasket Sealant (little blue spray can - $5). You spray it on the gasket on the side you are going to put on the valve cover. Then you put the gasket on the valve cover and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes. It will bond to the valve cover and then it will not fall off when you install the valve cover back on the engine. Plus it doesn't move either. DO NOT put the sealant on the side of the gasket that will be against the engine.
I installed mine two weeks ago and I have no leaks. My friend works on engines and knows all the end and outs about building engines. He told me he has built or rebuilt over 50 engines in all the years he has been a mechanic, so I trust him with my car.
I'm not a mechanic so he helps me all the time. I had a leak on my lower intake and the dealership wanted $420 to fix it. He came over and let me do all the work and 2 hours later and $30 in parts, it was fixed.
Good luck with your fix.
He did show me a trick about buying Permatex High Tack Spray-a-Gasket Sealant (little blue spray can - $5). You spray it on the gasket on the side you are going to put on the valve cover. Then you put the gasket on the valve cover and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes. It will bond to the valve cover and then it will not fall off when you install the valve cover back on the engine. Plus it doesn't move either. DO NOT put the sealant on the side of the gasket that will be against the engine.
I installed mine two weeks ago and I have no leaks. My friend works on engines and knows all the end and outs about building engines. He told me he has built or rebuilt over 50 engines in all the years he has been a mechanic, so I trust him with my car.
I'm not a mechanic so he helps me all the time. I had a leak on my lower intake and the dealership wanted $420 to fix it. He came over and let me do all the work and 2 hours later and $30 in parts, it was fixed.
Good luck with your fix.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
I always used the cork gaskets with no problems at all on my '65.
When I was redoing the motor on my '78 L82 I had a set of new Fel Pro rubber gaskets my buddy gave me so I used them istead. Leaked like a sieve from the first start-up. Replaced them with cork and not a drop has leaked since.
As far as I'm concerned the rubber ones are garbage and to add insult to injury they cost 2-3 times as much money!
I wouldn't have been so upset if changing them out were as easy as it is on the '65 but on the newer cars like my '78 just to pull the valve covers is a PITA with all the tubes, brackets, and hoses in the way. It was at least a good hour to hour and half job fighting to get the covers on and off thru all the crap on the motor where on the '65 I can have them off, replace the gaskets, and reinstall the covers in about 10 minutes total.
When I was redoing the motor on my '78 L82 I had a set of new Fel Pro rubber gaskets my buddy gave me so I used them istead. Leaked like a sieve from the first start-up. Replaced them with cork and not a drop has leaked since.
As far as I'm concerned the rubber ones are garbage and to add insult to injury they cost 2-3 times as much money!
I wouldn't have been so upset if changing them out were as easy as it is on the '65 but on the newer cars like my '78 just to pull the valve covers is a PITA with all the tubes, brackets, and hoses in the way. It was at least a good hour to hour and half job fighting to get the covers on and off thru all the crap on the motor where on the '65 I can have them off, replace the gaskets, and reinstall the covers in about 10 minutes total.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Oh
I've had good luck with both types. I believe the keys are to: 1) make sure the ridge on top of the heads that makes contact with the gasket is clean, 2) ensure the valve covers are not warped, and 3) that the valve cover bolts are not over torqued.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Cork and Rubber
Felpro has another gasket # VS12869 that is both cork and rubber. This # is flexable with out breaking. "wagonerjim" sugested the right proceedure, but use the 3M Weather stripping cement #08001 to permanently glue them into the valve covers. A little grease on the head surface and they will come right off and completely reusable over and over.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,499
Likes: 1,508
From: Little Rock AR
If you are having problems, it probably isn't the gasket. Something else is wrong. Something in the way causing a leak or the install method is faulty. They all work one way or another.
I use cork because that is what comes in the kit so they are next to free. They don't leak when installed properly. Glue them to the valve cover and put a little grease on the head surface if you want to pull them off easy later.
-Mark.
I use cork because that is what comes in the kit so they are next to free. They don't leak when installed properly. Glue them to the valve cover and put a little grease on the head surface if you want to pull them off easy later.
-Mark.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
Actually it depends....
I find cork seals better to the factory valve cover rails (which on most cast heads is not flat but actually has a slight curve to it) however on valve cover rails that are machined flat as on high quality aftermarket pieces - I prefer the metal reinforced rubber gaskets, because of thier reusability.
Cork gaskets are 9 times out of 10 a one use gasket - wherase the rubber ones can often be used several times. On my present engine the valve covers have probably been on and off about 8 times...still using the same gasket as when I put it together on the stand and with none of the typical SBC valve cover leaks. (I have edelbrock aluminum heads)
So I would vote for either.
I find cork seals better to the factory valve cover rails (which on most cast heads is not flat but actually has a slight curve to it) however on valve cover rails that are machined flat as on high quality aftermarket pieces - I prefer the metal reinforced rubber gaskets, because of thier reusability.
Cork gaskets are 9 times out of 10 a one use gasket - wherase the rubber ones can often be used several times. On my present engine the valve covers have probably been on and off about 8 times...still using the same gasket as when I put it together on the stand and with none of the typical SBC valve cover leaks. (I have edelbrock aluminum heads)
So I would vote for either.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 13
From: San Angelo TX
Originally Posted by Ironcross
Felpro has another gasket # VS12869 that is both cork and rubber. This # is flexable with out breaking. "wagonerjim" sugested the right proceedure, but use the 3M Weather stripping cement #08001 to permanently glue them into the valve covers. A little grease on the head surface and they will come right off and completely reusable over and over.
This is the way I do it. Never a problem.Rubber will not slip if done this way.
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by Ironcross
Felpro has another gasket # VS12869 that is both cork and rubber. This # is flexable with out breaking. "wagonerjim" sugested the right proceedure, but use the 3M Weather stripping cement #08001 to permanently glue them into the valve covers. A little grease on the head surface and they will come right off and completely reusable over and over.
Thanks Wally.
Is that the BB number?